Racing: Moutahddee in coup

MARCUS TREGONING landed the most valuable success of his training career when Moutahddee made all to land an ante-post gamble in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy Handicap at Sandown yesterday.

Carrying a 4lb penalty for a win at Goodwood last Monday Moutahddee, backed from 16-1 to 6-1 in midweek but 10-1 on the day, ran on under Tim Sprake to maintain a length-and-a-half lead over King Darius, who short- headed Algunnaas, like the winner owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, for third.

After the victory Tregoning, Dick Hern's former assistant and in his second full season with a licence, praised Sprake's tactics. He said: "The horse got a super ride. I was very worried about the draw, with the horse drawn right out under the hedge. But he has got a bit of foot, he broke well and from then on it was a galloping display.

"The ground has helped him because it takes a bit of pace out of the others and he loves it. He is a lovely horse to train and to have in the yard. It is difficult taking on older horses but he was really well weighted."